UAE breaks up ‘Qaeda cell’ of 7 Arabs

April 18, 2013 8:10 am

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Emirati police patrol in the Gulf emirate of Dubai/AFP

By AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, DUBAI, Apr 18 – Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have broken up an Al-Qaeda cell comprising seven Arabs who were plotting attacks in the Gulf state, an official statement said on Thursday.

The cell was “plotting acts that would have harmed the security of the country, its citizens and foreign residents,” said the statement carried by WAM state news agency.

The group was also involved in “recruiting people” for Al-Qaeda and providing the jihadist organisation with “money and logistic support,” the statement said.

It was also “trying to extend its activities to reach some other countries in the region,” it added.

The UAE is one of the most stable countries in the Middle East, which has not seen any attacks by Al-Qaeda, and has been spared in the wave of Arab Spring uprisings.

The population of the UAE, estimated at over eight million, is nearly 90 percent foreigners lured by work opportunities in the wealthy country.

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